Lock up your grandmothers

[McCardigan]

Originally Posted by Ozracer

Hi Chris
Seasonal Greetings and all that.
Make sure that you get soon good shots of the bikes in action and not your elbow

Evening Marc,

Just back in coverage at National Park attending the annual BMW NZ rally.

All I can say, is get yourself over here, and anyone else who want's to experience some unbelievable country, that is usually off limits to the public.

I'm talking of the NZ Army base at Wiaouru, in the middle of the North Island, its a high desert,Alpine area that covers about 160,000 acres!

It where you can fire some serious artillary shells,(155mm) over 35k's and not hurt anyone!! The Singaporen Army are down here for their annual manoverours.

This area has everything, from hardcore enduro riding to interesting gravel roads, to serious sand, which we found out today.

Have just spent 3 days doing some off road, I was part of the easy group, the crusiers,no 3, then there was the Sly Dogs, no2, and then there was the hard core.

Everyone's limit was catered for.

It was one of my all time rides

Lots of photos to follow.

[b0mb3r]

Originally Posted by McCardigan

Lots of photos to follow.

looking forward to um Chris

[Ozracer]

Originally Posted by McCardigan

Evening Marc,

Just back in coverage at National Park attending the annual BMW NZ rally.

All I can say, is get yourself over here, and anyone else who want's to experience some unbelievable country, that is usually off limits to the public.

I'm talking of the NZ Army base at Wiaouru, in the middle of the North Island, its a high desert,Alpine area that covers about 160,000 acres!

It where you can fire some serious artillary shells,(155mm) over 35k's and not hurt anyone!! The Singaporen Army are down here for their annual manoverours.

This area has everything, from hardcore enduro riding to interesting gravel roads, to serious sand, which we found out today.

Have just spent 3 days doing some off road, I was part of the easy group, the crusiers,no 3, then there was the Sly Dogs, no2, and then there was the hard core.

Everyone's limit was catered for.

It was one of my all time rides

Lots of photos to follow.

Hi Chris
NZ is on my bucket list.
BTW Never complain about the rain, today its been 41c and leaving work this arvo the car's temp was showimg 44c. F#$cking HOT!!!!!. Still about 35c

[Steve in NZ]

Originally Posted by McCardigan

Lots of photos to follow.

and santas arriving as well wearing a batman t shirt

[Kokopelli]

Originally Posted by McCardigan

All I can say, is get yourself over here, and anyone else who want's to experience some unbelievable country, that is usually off limits to the public.

I knew this was going to happen. Move right along, nothing to see here. A few rocks, a bit of sand, I mean gravel and more rocks, some green painted vehicles and that was about it, pretty barren really. No need to leave Australia.

[gsd4me]

I`m not game to come back, might get arrested when I leave the plane.

[Dave Ward]

Originally Posted by gsd4me

I`m not game to come back, might get arrested when I leave the plane.

Bloody refugees.....

[GSDane]

Hey Chris

Thanks for the pics and words so far...







but that is a long time back now - stop all the excuses about bad weather and no reception and get typing again with more great pics

Anyway... enjoy the ride
Cheers, Dorthe.

[clintnz]

Just saw Chris again yesterday, some more sidestand strengthening was completed & he was sent on his merry way south. I think him & Oscar are staying with 4Skins tonight, that could get messy Luckily he had taken our advice NOT to book the early ferry south after enjoying John & Jan's hospitality. Planning to catch up again for an expedition into the Clarence next weekend.

Cheers
Clint

[Kokopelli]

Chris has just completed his tour of duty at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. Rumors have it that his has been riding reconnaissance for the Special Airhead Service (SAS).

[McCardigan]

Originally Posted by Kokopelli

Chris has just completed his tour of duty at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. Rumors have it that his has been riding reconnaissance for the Special Airhead Service (SAS).

LOL! thanks Alex for the photo.

I'm slowly getting the PC back up and running,it had totally crashed, but thanks to a couple of IT guru's at the National BMW NZ rally lst weekend they managed to reboot the pc
Still have lost a couple of functions, Skype, etc.

Looked at the predicted weather coming from the south and made a beeline to Wellington to try and get the 8.00pm crossing on Monday night on standby, no luck, left yesterday morning and did the Molesworth yesterday a/noon in perfect weather conditions, better then last Saturday when I flew around the Tongariro NP.

About to leave Hanmer Springs for CC as I wait for the cold front to pass through on the West Coast, then follow it, back to Hanmer Springs and then up the Rainbow to Nelson.

Hope to start getting some photo's up in the next 24hrs as I sit out the expected 100mm+ rain and 120kph winds forcast for this part of the world

[cooneyr]

Originally Posted by McCardigan

About to leave Hanmer Springs for CC as I wait for the cold front to pass through on the West Coast, then follow it, back

Hey Chris check out this before you leave to do the rainbow. http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...wairau-valley/

I can't get the page to to work right now but my wife said that there is a big slip down just south of the sedgemere huts that has closed the road. Ring doc at south Marlborough if want to double check.

cheers r

[Cromagnon]

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Hey Chris check out this before you leave to do the rainbow. http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...wairau-valley/

I can't get the page to to work right now but my wife said that there is a big slip down just south of the sedgemere huts that has closed the road. Ring doc at south Marlborough if want to double check.

cheers r

Tried to go through rainbow over the weekend just been. There were a few smaller slips that we were able to navigate, however there was a BIG slip just north of the coldwater doc campsite. The dozer arrived to fix the slip while we were there...





As R said, best to check with the Malborough doc office first... Apologies for the big photos.

[clintnz]

Hi Chris, hope you're enjoying it down there, gotta love a run through the Molesworth on a nice day.

Have a look at the adventure guide info page on Edwards Pass & get the lock combo off DOC before you head through the Rainbow. It's a neat side trip.

I'm all set to head to Welly tomorrow & catch you in Picton Saturday. Should be rolling off the Bluebridge Santa Regina just before midday.

Cheers
Clint

[McCardigan]

Originally Posted by GSDane

Hey Chris

Thanks for the pics and words so far...







but that is a long time back now - stop all the excuses about bad weather and no reception and get typing again with more great pics

Anyway... enjoy the ride
Cheers, Dorthe.

Keep that up and I'll take all the Handorf Dark Chilli Chocolate out of the tankbag on the F800GS

PS About to start sending a few photos, I'm back in Hanmer Springs and things are looking good, just uploaded a couple of photo's successfully to SmugMug

PS The F800GS has just had new steering head bearings fitted, Hilly reckons its all right to ride now, he has been test riding it while his 950 awaits a new motor